Judge dismisses some of Tripp claims

The decision by U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan came in Mrs. Tripp's lawsuit against the government for releasing damaging information about her at the height of the perjury and obstruction investigation of President Clinton in 1998. Judge Sullivan said the Privacy Act under which Mrs. Tripp is suing does not cover the White House.

The Pentagon, Mrs. Tripp's employer at the time, revealed information from her personnel file to New Yorker magazine.

Delta flight returns after Russians abort it

SAN FRANCISCO A Delta Air Lines flight from Atlanta to Japan was forced to return to the United States after Russian air traffic controllers said it did not have permission to fly through their airspace.

Some 9* hours into the flight, the plane had to turn around and fly 5* more hours to land in San Francisco early yesterday.

Jurors cry as they view 'rebirthing' tape

GOLDEN, Colo. Jurors cried as they watched a videotape yesterday of a girl struggling for her life while wrapped in a blanket during a "rebirthing therapy" session.

The videotape was played at the trial of two therapists charged in the death of 10-year-old Candace Newmaker.

On the video, Candace shrieked and yelled, "I'm dying! It feels like I'm dying!" Therapist Julie Ponder appeared to be lying on top of Candace, who died of asphyxiation.

Court stays order on racial admissions

DETROIT A federal appeals court yesterday put on hold a judge's order that the University of Michigan law school stop using race as a factor in admissions.

A three-judge panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit of Appeals said the order is disrupting the selection of the incoming law school class.

Last week, U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman struck down the law school's affirmative action policy, then denied a request from Michigan to stay his order while the university appeals.

Coast Guard expecting drug seizure shortfall

The Coast Guard expects to fall short of its cocaine seizure goals for next year because of budget woes.

A $91 million deficit forced the Coast Guard in February to reduce air and sea patrols by 10 percent. The shortfall is the result of rising fuel costs as well as salary increases Congress approved without providing the money to pay for them.

White House reverses salmonella testing plan

The Bush administration backed away from a proposal to ease salmonella testing requirements on meat for school lunches, saying it was overruling lower-level Agriculture Department officials.

The administration reversed course yesterday after the proposal made front-page news, provoking criticism from consumer groups.

Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman said the changes "were released prior to receiving an appropriate review."